Key case



L. L. SVHERWOOD 2,360,077

KEY CASE Oct. .10, 1944.

Filed Feb. 20, 1943 J m m INVENT OR. ZESTE/FZ wen 000.

BY I Mfr-7'):

Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES :eTENT OFFICE KEY GASE Lester L. Sherwood, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 2-0, 1943, Serial No. 476,556

7 Claims.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a key case of the character referred to, wherein all of the main parts of the case are formed wholly of leather or analogous material; to provide a case wherein the keys carried thereby are detachably and pivotally connected to said case by means of a leather thong and further, to provide a latching strap of leather or the like for normally holding the case in compact form while closed and carried in the pocket.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a key case constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the case.

Fig. 5 is a view of the thong in open position.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a key and showing the thong in one of the apertures therein.

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of a duplex or double ended case.

Fig. 8 is an edge of the double ended case.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to the form of case illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, l0 designates the main body of the case, which is preferably formed of leather and folded on a medial line to form two identical side walls II.

The line of fold between the walls is straight and the upper portion of said side walls are extended outwardly away from the fold line, to provide substantially circular members [2. The free edges of the walls below the members l2 are curved downward toward the lower end of the foldline, as designated by l3.

Formed through the members l2, above the centers thereof, and eccentric to the lower portions of the curved edges of said members, are apertures l4, and formed through said members to the rear of said apertures M, are apertures I5.

If desired, the apertures 14 and 15 may be provided with eyelets of metal or plastic, but such practice is not necessary where the leather is fairly firm and stable.

The parallel portions of a substantially U- shaped strap l6 overlie the members l2 and seated in the ends of this strap are eyelets l! which register with the apertures 14 in said members. This strap serves as a latch to hold the case closed when carried in the pocket or purse and when closed, the short curved central portion that connects the parallel portions of said strap, fits snugly against the edges of the members l2 immediately adjacent the indented points where said edges join the upper ends of the curved edges l3.

The lower portions of the curved edges of members l2 bulge or are extended outwardly for a short distance as designated by 18, so that a certain amount of pressure must be applied to the central portion of said strap when the same is moved into fully closed position (see Fig. 1). Such provision tends to cause the latching strap to retain its closed position.

The keys K, carried by the case are placed between the Walls thereof, with the uppermost apertures in the heads of said keys in registration with the apertures 14.

Passing through eyelets I! in the ends of the latching strap l6, through apertures IQ and through the apertures in the keys, is the central portion I9 of a thong that serves to connect the assembled parts and provide an axis for the keys when the same are swung from one position to another, also as axis for the latching strap.

The edges 20 of portion IQ of the thong are curved outwardly, so that when said portion 19 is inserted through the apertures in the keys, it will curl transversely to provide a substantially cylindrical tube, that serves as an axis for the keys, as the same are swung into and out of the case, also an axis for the latching strap l6 (see Fig. 6).

Those portions 2| of the thong beyond the central portion I9 are increased in width, with abrupt shoulders 22, formed adjacent the ends of said central portion and these shoulders bear directly against the outer faces of the eyelets I1 portions extend through the apertures l5 and lie between the members I2 to the rear of the heads of the keys (see Fig. 3)

Thus, the keys, compactly arranged are entirely covered and, while the case is carried inthe 7 pocket or a bag, said keys cannot make direct contact with other articles. 7 7

To open the case to enable a key or keys to be used, the lower end of latching strap I6 is engaged and drawn outwardly and upwardly past V the bulging edges l8, to the approximate position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus permitting any one or all of the keys to be swung outward and upward so that the bits or shank thereof project from between the portions I2 of the case.

substantially identical flexible walls folded to form a closed side, a'thong passing through said In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a duplex or double ended key case constructed in accordance with my invention, and in this form, the body comprises two identical separately formed walls of leather or the like, both ends thereof being similar in shape to the substantially circular end portions l2, of the form of case seen in Fig.1. Each end portion of the duplex case is fitted with a latching'strap 26 identical with strap l6 and. V with a thong 21 identical with thong I9, 2].

' In this construction the two sets of keys car'- ried in the case lie side by side in parallel 'arrangement with the free ends of said keys projecting in opposite directions. 7 7

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a key case or carrier that is relatively simple in construction; inexpensive of manufacture and very 7 effective in performing the functions for which it is intended. V The production of the case requires but a small.

amount of leather or the like and when closed, thecase' is compact and therefore occupies very little space while being carried in the pocket, bag

or purse. r

It will be understood that minor changes in size, form and construction of the various parts of'my improved case may'be made and substie tuted f'or those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

. "liA key case comprising a flexible pair of walls and through apertures in the keys between said walls, shoulders formed on said thong adjacent the outer faces of'said walls and a latching strap pivoted on said thong between said shoulders and walls and passing around the edges of said walls.

2. A key case as set forth in claim 1 and withmeans on the edges of said walls for limiting the movement of said latching strap in one direction.

- 3. A key case as set forth in claim 1 with means on the edges of said walls for limiting the movement of said latching strap in one direction and the edges of said walls in front of said limiting means being eccentric to the axis of said latching strap so as to be frictionally engaged by the central portion of said latching strap as the same approaches said movement limiting means. l

4. A key case as set forth in claim land that portion of the thong that passes through said walls and the interposed keys being substantially cylindrical in form. 5. Inaikey case, a section of flexiblematerial folded double to form a pair of walls which'are substantially circular in shape at one end; a

flexible thong passing through the circular shaped ends of said walls and through'the keys positioned between said walls, shouldersformed on said thong adjacent the outer faces. of'said' walls and alatching strap pivoted on said thong between said shoulders and walls and extending across the edges of the circular shaped ends of "said walls.

6. A key case asset forth in claim 5 and that portion of the thong that passesthroughsaid walls and said keys'being substantially circular 40in shape. 7

'7. A key case, as set forth in claim 5 and portions 0f the edges of the circular shaped ends of said walls being eccentric relative to theaxis of 7 said latching strap.

a LESTER. L. SHERWOOD. 

